>> THE FOLLOWING PROGRAM
IS A PBS WISCONSIN
ORIGINAL PRODUCTION.
>> I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.
TONIGHT ON "HERE AND NOW," I
TALK ONE-ON-ONE WITH GOVERNOR
TONY EVERS ABOUT COVID-19 AND
THIS WEEK'S SPRING ELECTION.
PLUS REACTION FROM THE
REPUBLICAN SIDE.
THAT'S NEXT ON "HERE AND NOW"
FOR FRIDAY, APRIL 10.
>> FUNDING FOR "HERE AND NOW" IS
PROVIDED BY THE FOCUS FUND FOR
JOURNALISM AND FRIENDS OF PBS
WISCONSIN.
>> YOU'LL NOTICE WE ARE COMING
TO YOU FROM OUTSIDE THE PBS
WISCONSIN STUDIOS.
ENGINEERS AND SUPPORT STAFF ARE
REMOTELY BRINGING YOU OUR
PICTURE.
OUR INTERVIEW GUESTS WILL APPEAR
VIA VIDEO CONFERENCE.
AND OUR REPORTERS ARE
INGENIOUSLY PRODUCING STORIES
OUT OF THEIR HOMES.
OUR WEB NEWS EDITORS ARE TURNING
ARTICLES FOR ONLINE READING.
WITH THAT UNDERSTANDING OF HOW
"HERE AND NOW" IS WORKING RIGHT
NOW, WE BEGIN WITH A REPORT ON
TUESDAY'S ELECTION FROM WHICH WE
WILL NOT SEE RESULTS UNTIL
MONDAY DUE TO AN EXTENSION FOR
CLERKS TO COUNT ABSENTEE
BALLOTS.
ZAC SCHULTZ REPORTS ON THE
POTENTIAL FALLOUT
FROM OUR SPRING ELECTION.
>> IT JUST MAKES NO SENSE TODAY.
>> NO.
>> WISCONSIN'S 2020 PANDEMIC
ELECTION WILL BE REMEMBERED FOR
MANY THINGS.
>> WE ONLY HAVE FIVE POLLING
PLACES IN THE CITY AND I'VE BEEN
OUT HERE FOR ALMOST TWO HOURS.
>> THERE WERE LONG LINES IN
MILWAUKEE FULL OF VOTERS WEARING
MASKS.
>> YOU ARE INCREDIBLY SAFE TO GO
UP.
>> ASSEMBLY SPEAKER ROBIN VOS
WORKED AS A POLL WORKER IN
BURLINGTON.
>> I SIGNED UP FOR AN ABSENTEE
BALLOT TWO WEEKS AGO AND NEVER
GOT THEM.
>> VOTERS WERE ANGRY AT A
SITUATION THAT REQUIRED THEM TO
RISK CONTRACTING THE COVID-19 IN
ORDER TO VOTE.
>> IT WAS TRULY A TRAGEDY.
HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF VOTERS
WERE BASICALLY FORCED TO MAKE A
VERY CRUEL DECISION.
>> RICHARD SAKS FILED SUIT IN
FEDERAL COURT TRYING TO DELAY
THE ELECTION.
JUDGE CONLEY RULED HE DIDN'T
HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO STOP THE
ELECTION, BUT HE DID SAY HE
COULD REVIEW THE RESULTS.
>> HE WAS AMENABLE TO REVIEWING
WHETHER OR NOT WHAT WE WERE TOLD
ACTUALLY HAPPENED.
>> SAKS SAID HE HAS EVIDENCE OF
HUNDREDS, LIKELY THOUSANDS OF
CASES OF VOTER
DISENFRANCHISEMENT WHERE VOTERS
WERE NOT ABLE TO CAST A BALLOT
DUE TO LONG WAIT TIMES OR AN
INABILITY TO GET AN ABSENTEE
BALLOT.
>> THE ISSUE WE WOULD PRESENT TO
HIM WOULD BE VERY SERIOUS
EVIDENCE ABOUT VOTERS WHO WERE
DENIED THE RIGHT TO VOTE AND HOW
THE DENTAL OF THEIR RIGHT TO
VOTE CHANGED THE COURSE OF THIS
ELECTION.
>> MY GUESS IS THERE WILL BE
SOME LITIGATION.
WHEN A GROUP IS UNHAPPY, THEY GO
TO COURT.
>> BARRY BURDEN IS A POLITICAL
SCIENTIST PROFESSOR AT
UW-MADISON.
HE SAID SPRING ELECTIONS CAN BE
VERY DIFFERENT DEPENDING WHAT IS
ON THE BALLOT.
SO IT CAN BE DIFFICULT TO PROVE
VOTERS STAYED HOME DUE TO THE
PANDEMIC.
>> DISPARITIES BETWEEN RACIAL
AND ETHIC GROUPS ARE AN
IMPORTANT FACTOR.
BUT IT'S HARD TO DO IN
WISCONSIN.
THE VOTER FILE, DATABASE,
DOESN'T INCLUDE THE RACE OF THE
VOTER.
>> HE SAYS THEY'RE STUDYING
TURNOUT NUMBERS IN
AFRICAN-AMERICAN WARDS IN
MILWAUKEE BECAUSE UNDER THE
VOTING RIGHTS ACT, MINORITY
VOTERS HAVE SPECIAL PROTECTIONS.
>> AND IF IN FACT MINORITY
VOTERS AS A GROUP WERE
SUPPORTING A PARTICULAR
CANDIDATE THAT THEY WANTED TO
SEE ELECTED AND THAT CANDIDATE
WASN'T ELECTED BECAUSE THE
REPUBLICAN LEGISLATURE INSISTED
UPON THOSE VOTERS COMING OUT TO
VOTE IN THE MIDST OF A PANDEMIC,
THAT WOULD BE IN MY MIND A VERY
SERIOUS VIOLATION OF ALL THOSE
VOTERS' RIGHT TO VOTE.
>> THE QUESTION THEN IS WHAT
COULD A JUDGE DO TO FIX THE
PROBLEM AFTER THE ELECTION.
>> IN TERMS OF WHAT REMEDY WE'D
BE LOOKING FOR, I'M NOT CERTAIN.
>> I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE REMEDY
WOULD BE AT THIS POINT.
IT SEEMS UNLIKELY THAT A JUDGE
WOULD ORDER THAT AN ELECTION IS
RERUN.
>> PROFESSOR BURDEN SAYS ONE
ANSWER IS TO LOOK TO THE NEXT
ELECTION.
>> THERE MAY BE SOME REMEDIES
THAT GET PUT IN PLACE FOR FUTURE
ELECTIONS, MAYBE MANDATES THAT
ARE PLACED ON ELECTION
AUTHORITIES FOR THE
AUGUST PRIMARY OR THE
NOVEMBER ELECTION.
>> SAKS AGREES THIS WON'T BE
LIMITED TO THIS SPRING.
>> WE HAVE TO TAKE A VERY
SERIOUS LOOK THAT THIS COULD BE
SOMEWHAT OF A DRESS REHEARSAL
FOR OBSTACLES IN THE
NOVEMBER ELECTION.
>> REPORTING FROM MADISON, I'M
ZAC SCHULTZ FOR "HERE AND NOW."
>> ONE DAY BEFORE TUESDAY'S
ELECTION, GOVERNOR TONY EVERS
ISSUED AN EXECUTIVE ORDER
SUSPENDING IN-PERSON VOTING, BUT
HIS MOVE FAILED IN THE COURTS.
WHY DID HE WAIT?
WHAT ARE HIS THOUGHTS AS
WISCONSIN AWAITS ELECTION
RETURNS ON MONDAY?
WE ASK HIM THESE QUESTIONS AND
MORE AS COVID-19 CASES CONTINUE
TO MOUNT.
HE HAS AGREED TO JOIN US EACH
FRIDAY WITH THE LATEST UPDATES
ON WHAT'S HAPPENING AND HE JOINS
US NOW FROM THE CAPITOL.
>> GOVERNOR, THANK VERY MUCH FOR
JOINING US.
WE REALLY APPRECIATE IT.
>> THANK YOU, FREDERICA.
>> WHAT DO YOU PROPOSE FOR
NOVEMBER ELECTIONS GIVEN
CONCERNS OVER POLLING PLACES AND
BALLOTS IN THE SPRING ELECTION?
>> WELL, CERTAINLY I THINK WITH
A MILLION PEOPLE VOTING BY MAIL,
OVER A MILLION PEOPLE VOTING BY
MAIL, THAT'S SOMETHING WE HAVE
TO CONSIDER.
NOW, DO I THINK THE LEGISLATORS
ARE GOING TO BE IN A POSITION OF
DOING A MAIL-IN ONLY?
I THINK THAT'S UNLIKELY.
BUT THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS
WE'VE HAD OVER A MILLION PEOPLE
VOTING IN THIS PRIMARY ELECTION,
WHICH IS A LOW TURNOUT PRIMARY,
AND I'M GOING TO KEEP PUSHING
PEOPLE TO TAKE THAT INTO
NOVEMBER, THAT IT IS EASIER AND
MORE EFFECTIVE AND IT CAN BE
DONE.
AND CERTAINLY WE HAVE TO BE, YOU
KNOW, BETTER ORGANIZED AHEAD OF
TIME TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN.
BUT I THINK PEOPLE HAVE VOTED
WITH THEIR FEET AND THEY'VE
INDICATED THAT THEY PERSONALLY
WANT TO DO THIS.
>> WHAT ABOUT FOR THE MAY DATE
IN THE 7TH CONGRESSIONAL?
WILL YOU CALL TO DELAY THAT?
>> WELL, WE'RE STILL -- THAT'S
UNDER CONSIDERATION.
WE'RE GOING TO FOLLOW THE
SCIENCE.
I KNOW PEOPLE ARE TIRED OF ME
SAYING THAT.
BUT IF INDEED WE FEEL THAT IT
WILL ENDANGER PEOPLE
HEALTH-WISE, THEN WE WILL LOOK
AT A CHANGE.
BUT WE'RE NOT AT THAT POINT NOW.
>> WELL, WHEN YOU SAW IMAGES OF
THOSE LONG LINES IN MILWAUKEE
AND ELSEWHERE, WHAT DID YOU
THINK?
>> I THINK -- I THOUGHT THAT
THIS IS A REASON I ORDERED THIS
ELECTION TO BE PUSHED BACK AND
WHY I WORKED HARD OVER SEVERAL
WEEKS TO GET TO A DIFFERENT
PLACE WITH LEGISLATIVE LEADERS.
AND, YOU KNOW, IT DIDN'T HAVE TO
HAPPEN.
IT DID HAPPEN.
AND SO IT WAS FORCING PEOPLE TO
DECIDE WHETHER TO VOTE OR
WHETHER TO BE UNSAFE.
AND IT WAS JUST -- MADE PEOPLE
HAVE A -- FORCED THEM INTO
MAKING CHOICES LIKE THAT.
I DIDN'T THINK THAT WAS FAIR,
BUT THE COURT MADE THE RULING
AND THAT WAS THAT.
>> WHY DID YOU WAIT SO LONG TO
TRY TO ORDER A DELAY IN
IN-PERSON VOTING?
>> WELL, FIRST OF ALL, IF I HAD
DONE THAT ORDER TWO WEEKS
EARLIER, IT WOULD HAVE BEEN THE
SAME RESULT.
THE SUPREME COURT MADE IT VERY
CLEAR.
BUT I FELT THAT I HAD TO GIVE
THE LEGISLATURE -- THEY HAVE A
ROLE IN THIS, THAT THEY HAD THE
OPPORTUNITY TO LOOK AT CHANGING
IT IN SOME WAY, AND WE OBVIOUSLY
GOT NO PLACE WITH THAT.
AND SO AT THE END OF THE DAY I
KNEW I HAD TO DO THAT ORDER.
>> WHAT IS YOUR RESPONSE TO
ABSENTEE BALLOT PROBLEMS THAT
PREVENTED PEOPLE FROM GETTING
ONE OR A CLERK FROM RECEIVING A
COMPLETED BALLOT?
>> THAT'S JUST IT.
BEFORE I EVEN THINK ABOUT WHAT I
SHOULD BE SAYING ABOUT THAT, I
WANT TO KNOW EXACTLY WHAT
HAPPENED.
AND WE ARE GOING TO FIND OUT.
BUT, YOU KNOW, I'M NOT EVEN -- I
DON'T EVEN FRANKLY KNOW WHETHER
IT'S BALLOTS THAT HAVE NEVER
BEEN DELIVERED TO VOTERS OR
VOTERS SENDING BALLOTS TO THEIR
MUNICIPALITY.
THAT IS AN UNKNOWN YET.
AND SO WE HAVE TO SORT THROUGH
THAT.
BUT CERTAINLY THAT ISN'T THE WAY
WE WANT IT TO WORK NO MATTER
WHICH WAY IT'S DONE.
>> WHAT DO YOU SAY TO PEOPLE WHO
MAY NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO VOTE
BECAUSE OF ALL THESE ISSUES?
>> WELL, IT IS COMPLEX TIMES AND
IT WILL BE LITIGATED, I AM SURE.
AND CERTAINLY THE FEDERAL COURT
ACTIVITY CONTRIBUTED TO THAT
MIGHTILY IN THAT WE HAD
DIFFERENT TIMES AND DATES AND
EXPECTATIONS AT ONE TIME, AND
THEN AT THE LAST MINUTE THE U.S.
SUPREME COURT MADE THEIR
DECISION.
AND SO THERE'S GOING TO HAVE TO
BE SOME RECKONING WHAT HAPPENED
THERE, TOO.
BUT CLEARLY I'M SURE THERE ARE
PEOPLE WHO FEEL DISENFRANCHISED
BY THIS IN VERY REAL WAYS AND I
ANTICIPATE THAT WE'LL HAVE COURT
DECISIONS ON THIS FOR SOME TIME.
>> I UNDERSTAND THAT THE
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH SERVICES
WILL STEP UP CONTACT TRACING TO,
QUOTE, BETTER TRACK WISCONSIN
RESIDENTS WHO MAY HAVE BEEN
EXPOSED TO COVID-19 DURING
TUESDAY'S ELECTION.
WHAT WILL HEALTH OFFICIALS DO
WITH THAT INFORMATION?
>> YEAH.
THE CONTACT TRACING IS REALLY
IMPORTANT.
AND IT'S IMPORTANT, AN IMPORTANT
TOOL FOR PUBLIC HEALTH PEOPLE
ANYWAY.
BUT WE'LL BE -- I THINK THERE
WILL BE 100 PEOPLE ON THE GROUND
IN THE MILWAUKEE AREA AND OTHER
AREAS OF THE STATE, I BELIEVE,
TO ASK QUESTIONS OF -- ASK
QUESTIONS OF PEOPLE THAT HAVE --
WITHIN THE NEXT 14 DAYS OR SO,
YOU KNOW, WHERE WERE YOU WHEN
THIS HAPPENED, WHAT WERE YOU
WITH, THAT SORT OF THING.
AND WE'LL BE ABLE TO ZERO IT
INTO WHERE THAT HAPPENED AND WAS
IT A RESULT OF VOTING OR NOT.
OR AT LEAST CERTAINLY A GOOD
ESTIMATE, GUESSTIMATE.
BUT THE CONTRACT TRACING IS
REALLY IMPORTANT, NOT JUST FOR
THIS ELECTION BUT FOR OTHER
THINGS GOING FORWARD.
WE HAVE TO HAVE THAT STUFF IN
PLACE BECAUSE ONCE WE GET TO A
POINT WHERE WE'RE BACK TO NORMAL
AND THINGS ARE OPERATING, WE
STILL HAVE TO BE PROTECTIVE OF
IT.
PUBLIC HEALTH IS GOING TO LOOK A
LOT DIFFERENT IN THE FUTURE THAN
IT DOES RIGHT NOW.
>> WHERE ARE WE RIGHT NOW WITH
THIS OUTBREAK?
HAVE THE SAFER AT HOME ORDERS
YET FLATTENED THE CURVE?
>> NOT YET, BUT WE BELIEVE IT
WOULD HAVE BEEN A MUCH WORSE
SITUATION IF WE HADN'T HAD THE
SAFER AT HOME ORDER.
I THINK IT'S BEEN REALLY
IMPORTANT AND AT THE END OF THE
DAY IT'S GOING TO BE VERY
EFFECTIVE.
BUT WE ARE NOT YET AT THE POINT
WHERE THAT CURVE IS FLATTENED,
AND SO WE WILL CONTINUE TO
MONITOR THIS ON A REGULAR BASIS
AND THINK ABOUT WHAT WE SHOULD
BE DOING GOING FORWARD.
BUT IT IS THE RIGHT THING.
PEOPLE OF WISCONSIN, FRANKLY,
HAVE RESPONDED QUITE WELL.
I KNOW RESTRICTIONS AREN'T
EVERYBODY'S TOP OF THEIR LIST,
BUT WE NEED TO DO THIS.
>> DO YOU EXPECT TO EXTEND YOUR
STAY AT HOME ORDER PAST
APRIL 24?
SOME AT THIS POINT SEEM TO BE
CALLING FOR IT TO BE LIFTED EVEN
AHEAD OF THAT.
>> YEAH.
THAT'S -- I THINK WE NEED TO
REALLY THINK HARD ABOUT THOSE
KIND OF RECOMMENDATIONS.
THE LAST THING, WHETHER YOU'RE A
BUSINESS OWNER OR SOMEBODY
THAT'S UNEMPLOYED, THERE'S LOTS
OF PEOPLE THAT ARE SUFFERING BY
THIS.
AND I'D SUGGEST THE ENTIRE STATE
IS, IN RESPECT.
BUT THE LAST THING WE WANT IS TO
GO THROUGH ALL THIS WORK AND DO
SOMETHING TOO SOON AND SUDDENLY
HAVE A RECURRENCE AND THEN YOU
AND I WILL BE SITTING HERE A
YEAR FROM NOW TALKING ABOUT THE
SAME THING.
I'M GLAD TO COME BACK AND TALK
ABOUT OTHER THINGS A YEAR FROM
NOW.
BUT THE LAST THING I WANT TO BE
IS TALKING ABOUT THIS A YEAR
FROM NOW.
SO WE HAVE TO BE VERY CAUTIOUS
VERY CAREFUL.
>> WHAT CAN BE DONE ABOUT HOW
COVID-19 IS DISPROPORTIONATELY
AFFECTING THE AFRICAN-AMERICAN
POPULATION?
>> YEAH.
IT'S A CRISIS WITHIN A CRISIS.
THE CONTACT TRACING WE DO AROUND
THE CONTENTION -- ELECTION,
EXCUSE ME, IS REALLY IMPORTANT
FOR ALL PEOPLE, AND ESPECIALLY
WHEN WE UNDERSTAND THAT PEOPLE
OF COLOR, ESPECIALLY OUR
AFRICAN-AMERICAN FRIENDS AND
NEIGHBORS, ARE BEING
DISPROPORTIONATELY IMPACTED BY
THIS.
AND SO THAT CONTACT TRACING IS
REALLY IMPORTANT THERE, TOO, SO
THAT WE UNDERSTAND WHAT WE NEED
TO DO GOING FORWARD TO MAKE SURE
THAT DOESN'T HAPPEN AGAIN.
>> LATE THIS WEEK, YOU ANNOUNCED
THAT STATE FAIR PARK WILL BE
TURNED INTO AN ALTERNATIVE CARE
FACILITY.
WHY IS THAT NEEDED AT THIS TIME?
>> WELL, WE ANTICIPATE A SURGE
IN PEOPLE THAT HAVE THE VIRUS
AND ARE NEEDING HOSPITAL BEDS,
AND SO THIS IS TO GET US TO THE
POINT WHERE WE HAVE -- WE WILL
ALWAYS HAVE MORE HOSPITAL BEDS
THAN WE HAVE PEOPLE NEEDING
THOSE BEDS.
IF WE EVER GET THAT FLIPPED, IT
WILL BE NEW YORK AND WE WILL BE
IN A BAD PLACE.
SO WE'RE WORKING WITH ARMY CORPS
OF ENGINEERS AND NATIONAL GUARD
AND FEMA TO CREATE THIS AT THE
WISCONSIN STATE FAIR PARK.
I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE
KEEP AHEAD OF THAT CURVE.
>> WHAT KIND OF CAPACITY WILL
THAT FACILITY HAVE?
>> WELL, I THINK THAT'S STILL
BEING DECIDED, BUT WE ARE IN THE
PROCESS OF USING THE EXPOSITION
HALL, WHICH IS A LARGE FACILITY
THERE.
SO I THINK IT'S GOING TO GIVE US
LOTS OF OPTIONS, BUT THE EXACT
NUMBER OF BEDS YET ARE NOT -- TO
MY KNOWLEDGE, IS NOT YET
DETERMINED.
>> YOU'VE ALSO JUST CLOSED 40
STATE PARKS.
WHY DID YOU TAKE THAT ACTION?
>> THAT HURT.
THAT HURT MIGHTILY.
AS ONE THAT A COUPLE TIMES HAVE
UTILIZED THE STATE PARKS IN THIS
TRAUMATIC TIME.
IT JUST BECAME TOO MUCH OF AN
ISSUE OF PEOPLE -- FIRST OF ALL,
THERE'S BAD ACTORS, VANDALISM,
THINGS LIKE THAT.
AND THEN THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE
THAT WEREN'T APPROPRIATELY
DISTANCING THEMSELVES, AND IT
BECAME TOO MUCH OF A BURDEN TO
KEEP IT OPEN AND, UNFORTUNATELY,
WE HAD TO CLOSE DOWN MOST OF THE
SYSTEM.
>> HAS YOUR DEPARTMENT OF
WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT BEEN ABLE
TO ADEQUATELY RESPOND TO THE
HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF
UNEMPLOYMENT CLAIMS?
>> WELL, WE'RE SURE WORKING HARD
AT IT.
WE'VE ADDED MORE PEOPLE.
WE'VE ADDED MORE TECHNOLOGY.
WE ARE HOPING THAT IN THIS
BUDGET DELIBERATIONS WITH THE
LEGISLATURE WE CAN GET SOME
RESOURCES FOR MORE PEOPLE.
WE MOVED PEOPLE AROUND IN ORDER
TO DO THIS.
BUT PEOPLE ALSO HAVE TO REALIZE
-- AND THIS IS NO EXCUSE, BUT
ONCE PEOPLE ARE DONE TAKING THAT
INPUT FROM SOMEBODY ON THE PHONE
OR ONLINE, THEY ACTUALLY HAVE TO
PROCESS ALL THAT INFORMATION
INTO THE SYSTEM SO THAT THEY GET
THEIR CHECKS.
SO IT'S A 24-HOUR-A-DAY EVENT.
WE JUST NEED MORE PEOPLE TO MAKE
IT HAPPEN.
WELL OVER 90% OF PEOPLE ARE
COMPLETING THIS ONLINE.
WE'RE CONTINUING TO WORK WITH ON
THAT.
ARE WE SATISFIED WITH OUR
RESULTS YET?
NO.
BUT I THINK WE WILL BE IN A
BETTER PLACE.
>> WHEN CAN PEOPLE EXPECT THOSE
ENHANCED BENEFITS THAT ARE PART
OF THE FEDERAL STIMULUS PACKAGE?
>> WELL, WE'RE STILL RECEIVING
INFORMATION FROM THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT ON THAT.
I HEARD IT WAS GOING TO BE VERY,
VERY SOON.
TREASURY DEPARTMENT WHICH
FRANKLY ISN'T A DEPARTMENT THAT
HAS BEEN INVOLVED WITH PROVIDING
GUIDANCE MATERIALS FOR
SITUATIONS LIKE THIS, THEY WON'T
BE GETTING THEIR FINAL GUIDANCE
OUT UNTIL THE END OF NEXT WEEK.
SO HOPEFULLY THAT MONEY THAT
WILL BE GOING -- THE ADDITIONAL
MONEY THAT WILL BE GOING TO
UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE WILL BE
THERE VERY SOON.
>> MEANWHILE, AS YOU WELL KNOW,
LEGISLATIVE LEADERS ARE WORKING
ON THEIR OWN COVID-19 RESPONSE
PACKAGE AND ARE SET TO TAKE THAT
UP NEXT WEEK.
HOW WELL DOES THAT PACKAGE
DOVETAIL WITH YOUR OWN
PROPOSALS?
>> WELL, WE'RE WAITING TO SEE.
WE'VE HAD CONVERSATIONS WITH THE
REPUBLICAN LEADERSHIP AND I KNOW
THE DEMOCRATS AND THE
LEGISLATURE HAVE.
BUT UNTIL I GET A CHANCE TO SEE
IT, IT'S HARD TO REACT TO.
I KNOW AT ONE POINT IN TIME --
AND I'M STILL VERY CONCERNED
ABOUT IT, AND TO ME IT'S A
POISON PILL TO HAVE -- GIVE SO
MUCH AUTHORITY -- ONE OF THEIR
PROPOSALS WAS TO GIVE SO MUCH
AUTHORITY TO THE JOINT FINANCE
COMMITTEE.
AND THE ESSENCE OF THAT IS A
SMALL GROUP OF FOLKS WOULD BE
ABLE TO GUT THE BUDGET AND MAKE
CUTS ON THEIR OWN VOLITION,
WHICH COMPLETELY IS NOT
ACCEPTABLE TO ME.
SO I'M HOPEFUL THAT THAT PIECE
IS NOT IN THE LEGISLATION
BECAUSE I WOULD HATE TO VETO
SOME VERY IMPORTANT THINGS
BECAUSE OF THAT.
>> WHAT IS MOST IMPORTANT TO YOU
TO BE IN ANY KIND OF PACKAGE
LIKE THAT?
>> WELL, CERTAINLY WE HAVE --
THE ONE WEEK OF -- THAT THE
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT -- AND
UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE IS AN
EXAMPLE.
IT WAS REALLY IMPORTANT THAT THE
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SAID WE WON'T
DELAY IT, WON'T BE THAT ONE-WEEK
WAITING PERIOD.
WE HAVE TO HAVE THE STATE
GOVERNMENT SAY THE SAME AND ONLY
OUR LEGISLATURE CAN MAKE THAT
HAPPEN THROUGH A BILL.
AND THIS HAS TO BE A PART OF IT.
THAT'S A HUGE THING.
THAT'S IMPACTING ALL SORTS OF
PEOPLE IN THE STATE OF
WISCONSIN.
THERE'S OTHER THINGS WE NEED AS
RELATES TO MAKING SURE THAT OUR
LOCAL PUBLIC HEALTH WORKERS AND
COUNTY HEALTH AGENCIES ARE IN A
GOOD PLACE SO THAT THEY CAN
CONTINUE TO DO GOOD WORK, BUT
ALSO GOOD WORK GOING FORWARD.
BUT ONE WEEK OF MAKING SURE THAT
PEOPLE DON'T HAVE TO WAIT THAT
ADDITIONAL WEEK IS THE MOST
IMPORTANT THING FOR ME.
>> ALL RIGHT.
GOVERNOR EVERS, WE LEAVE IT
THERE.
WE THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR
TIME TODAY AND WE LOOK FORWARD
TO CHECKING IN WITH YOU EACH
FRIDAY AS THIS PROGRESSES AND,
AS YOU SAY, HOPEFULLY IN A YEAR
OR SO WE'LL BE ON TALKING WITH
YOU ABOUT OTHER MATTERS.
THANKS VERY MUCH.
>> THANK YOU, FREDERICA.
>> DESPITE OBJECTIONS FROM THE
GOVERNOR AND DEMOCRATS, THIS
WEEK REPUBLICAN LEADERSHIP
FORGED AHEAD WITH VOTING ON
ELECTION DAY.
THEY FOUND SUPPORT IN THEIR
EFFORTS FROM THE WISCONSIN
SUPREME COURT AND THE U.S.
SUPREME COURT.
TONIGHT, ASSEMBLY MAJORITY
LEADER JIM STEINEKE JOINS US
WITH HIS INSIGHTS ON THE
COVID-19 PANDEMIC.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING
HERE.
>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.
>> FORMER LONG TIME REPUBLICAN
AND NEENAH MAYOR, DEAN
KAUFERT, TOLD US THIS WEEK
THAT HE BELIEVES TUESDAY'S
VOTE DID SUPPRESS THE VOTE
BECAUSE SOME PEOPLE
OR POTENTIALLY MANY PEOPLE
WERE AFRAID TO STAND IN LINE.
WHAT'S YOUR REACTION TO THAT?
>> WELL, I THINK THE BIGGEST
THING IS WE KEPT THE CURRENT
ELECTION PROCEDURES IN PLACE.
WHETHER EVERYBODY WAS ABLE TO GO
THROUGH THE ABSENTEE BALLOT
PROCESS OR HAD TO APPEAR IN
PERSON, THAT'S OUR REGULAR
PROCESS.
THE GOVERNOR AGREED WITH US FOR
THREE WEEKS LEADING UP TO THE
ELECTION.
ONLY IN THE 11TH HOUR DID HE
CHANGE HIS MIND WHEN IT WAS TOO
LATE.
WE HAD ALREADY HAD HUNDREDS OF
BALLOTS CAST, HUNDREDS OF
THOUSANDS MORE OUT THERE.
TO CHANGE THE RULES IN THE
MIDDLE OF THE GAME JUST DIDN'T
MAKE SENSE AT THAT POINT.
WE HAD 3,900 LOCAL RACES THAT
WERE ON THE BALLOT THAT NEEDED
TO BE FILLED.
>> BUT YOU'RE NOT SUGGESTING
THAT HAD THE GOVERNOR MADE THE
DECISION TO DELAY THE IN-PERSON
VOTING EARLIER, THAT THE
MAJORITY WOULD HAVE GONE ALONG
WITH THAT.
>> NO.
WHAT I'M SAYING IS THE GOVERNOR
WAS RIGHT EARLY ON WHEN HE SAID
WE COULD NOT DELAY IT BECAUSE IT
WAS A GENERAL ELECTION.
OTHER STATES THAT DELAYED THEIR
ELECTIONS ALL HAD PRIMARIES.
IF WE HAD ONLY HAD A PRIMARY IN
PLACE, PRIMARY ELECTION, WE
COULD HAVE DELAYED IT.
BUT BEING THAT IT WAS A GENERAL
ELECTION FOR OVER 3900 LOCAL
SEATS IN THE STATE, WE JUST
DIDN'T HAVE THAT OPTION.
>> WHAT IS YOUR REACTION TO
MISSING ABSENTEE BALLOTS THAT
ARE BEING REPORTED NOW, SOME
POTENTIALLY FROM YOUR DISTRICT?
>> YEAH.
IT'S REALLY TROUBLING.
I REALLY BELIEVE THAT IF
SOMEBODY REQUESTS AN ABSENTEE
BALLOT WITHIN THE TIME FRAME
GIVEN, THEY SHOULD BE GUARANTEED
TO GET THAT BALLOT BACK IN TIME
TO VOTE IN THE REGULAR ELECTION.
NOW, THIS FLIES IN THE FACE OF
WHAT THE DEMOCRATS ARE PROPOSING
RIGHT NOW, GOING TO AN
ALL-MAIL-IN BALLOT ELECTION WITH
NO IN-PERSON VOTING WHEN WE'RE
SEEING ALL THE PROBLEMS WE HAD.
IT'S A SYSTEM THAT DOESN'T MAKE
SENSE RIGHT NOW.
THE ONE WE CURRENTLY HAVE IN
PLACE WE SAW WORK BY AND LARGE
TO GET PEOPLE OUT THERE TO VOTE
THROUGH THE ABSENTEE PROCESS.
BUT WE DO HAVE TO TIGHTEN IT UP
TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYONE
REQUESTS ONE IN TIME GETS ONE IN
TIME.
>> WHAT IF ISSUES PERSIST INTO
NOVEMBER?
I MEAN, IS THE MAJORITY WILLING
TO ACCEPT TRYING TO FIX WHATEVER
ISSUES EXIST WITH THE ABSENTEE
BALLOTS?
>> YEAH.
I MEAN, I THINK WE NEED TO DO,
WORKING WITH THE ELECTIONS
COMMISSION, WHATEVER WE CAN TO
MAKE SURE THAT THE CURRENT
PROCESS WORKS FOR EVERYBODY.
WHAT THE DEMOCRATS ARE REALLY
PROPOSING -- AND IT'S NO SECRET
THAT THEY TEND TO USE CRISIS TO
MOVE POLICY.
THEY'VE BEEN TRYING TO GET RID
OF VOTER I.D. FOR YEARS, EVER
SINCE IT WENT INTO PLACE.
THEY'RE TRYING TO USE THIS
CRISIS IN ORDER TO DO THAT,
PROPOSING SENDING OUT BALLOTS TO
EVERY SINGLE REGISTERED VOTER,
BUT THEN ELIMINATING THE VOTER
I.D. REQUIREMENT AND THE
SIGNATURE OF A WITNESS ON THAT
BALLOT.
SO THERE WOULD BE ABSOLUTELY NO
PROTECTIONS IN PLACE TO MAKE
SURE THAT THE VOTER SENDING IN
THAT BALLOT IS WHO THEY SAY THEY
ARE.
>> MEANWHILE, LEGISLATIVE
REPUBLICANS HAVE COME UP WITH A
COVID-19 RESPONSE PACKAGE.
WHAT ARE ITS MOST IMPORTANT
PRONGS?
>> REALLY WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO
DO HERE -- AND WE'RE WORKING
WITH LEADERSHIP ON THE DEMOCRAT
SIDE TO PUT TOGETHER A PACKAGE
THAT'S BIPARTISAN IN NATURE.
WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO IS MAKE
SOME CHANGES TO THE UNEMPLOYMENT
PACKAGE TO SUSPEND THE ONE-WEEK
DELAY SO WE CAN CAPTURE SOME
FEDERAL MONEY THROUGH THE CARES
ACT.
WE HAVE TO MAKE MEDICAID CHANGES
TO CAPTURE ADDITIONAL MONEY
THROUGH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
THEN WE'RE ALSO TRYING TO
STREAMLINE SOME REGULATIONS TO
MAKE SURE WE CAN GET AS MANY
HEALTH CARE WORKERS INTO THE
FIELD TO RESPOND TO THAT CRISIS.
>> I UNDERSTAND IT WOULD ALLOW
THE JOINT FINANCE COMMITTEE TO
MAKE STATE SPENDING CUTS BECAUSE
OF POTENTIAL LOSS OF REVENUE.
THE GOVERNOR, AS YOU KNOW, TAKES
GREAT EXCEPTION TO THAT.
WHAT DO YOU SAY TO HIM ON THIS?
>> WELL, WE'VE REMOVED THAT
BECAUSE OF HIS OBJECTIONS.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT'S
FRUSTRATING FOR US IS WE'VE BEEN
WORKING WITH OUR COLLEAGUES ON
THE DEMOCRATIC SIDE OF THE AISLE
TO PUT FORWARD A PACKAGE THAT WE
CAN ALL AGREE ON.
THE IMAGINE THAT THE GOVERNOR
RAN OUT TO THE MEDIA AND
RELEASED WAS JUST AN INITIAL
DRAFT, SOMETHING THAT WE WERE
GETTING INPUT FROM THE DEMOCRATS
ON, TRYING TO FIND OUT WHERE WE
CAN FIND SOME COMMON GROUND.
AND INSTEAD OF COMING TO US AND
LETTING US KNOW THAT HE HAD
OBJECTIONS TO IT, THE GOVERNOR
DECIDED TO GO STRAIGHT TO THE
MEDIA.
I'M NOT SURE WHY HE DID AND IT
DOESN'T HELP OUR NEGOTIATIONS.
WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO MOVE
FORWARD TO TRY TO FIND A PACKAGE
WE CAN ALL VOTE ON AND SEND TO
THE GOVERNOR'S DESK.
>> BUT, AGAIN, THAT PROVISION
REGARDING JOINT FINANCE HAS BEEN
REMOVED FROM THE PACKAGE.
>> YES.
THE IDEA HERE -- AND I THINK
THERE'S UNIVERSAL AGREEMENT HERE
THAT WE'RE GOING TO SEE REVENUE
DECLINE COMING INTO STATE
COFFERS.
SO WE HAD A $800 MILLION
PROJECTED SURPLUS BEFORE THIS
WHOLE CRISIS STARTED.
THAT'S GONE.
AND THEN WE'RE WORRIED THAT THE
NEW REVENUE PROJECTIONS WILL
SHOW A SHORTFALL.
SO WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO IS
SLOW DOWN THE RATE OF SPENDING
IN THE SECOND YEAR SO THAT WE
DON'T HAVE TO MAKE MASSIVE CUTS
GOING INTO THE NEXT BUDGET.
>> ALL RIGHT.
WELL, REPRESENTATIVE JIM
STEINEKE, WE TRULY APPRECIATE
YOU JOINING US AND GOOD LUCK TO
YOU, THE LEGISLATURE AND THE
EXECUTIVE BRANCH AS YOU WORK
THROUGH THIS COVID-19 RESPONSE
PACKAGE.
>> THANK YOU.
STAY SAFE, EVERYBODY.
>> THAT IS OUR PROGRAM FOR THIS
WEEK.
BE SURE TO JOIN US ONLINE
THROUGHOUT THE WEEK FOR UPDATES
AT pbswisconsin.org AND THEN
CLICK ON THE NEWS TAB.
ALSO FOR ONGOING, IN-DEPTH
COVERAGE OF THE COVID-19
PANDEMIC IN WISCONSIN, VISIT
wiscontext.org.
STAY WELL, WISCONSIN, AND WE
WILL SEE YOU NEXT WEEK FOR "HERE
AND NOW."
I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.
HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND.
>> FUNDING FOR "HERE AND NOW" IS
PROVIDED BY THE FOCUS FUND FOR
JOURNALISM AND FRIENDS OF PBS
WISCONSIN.